--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The pulpit and the press have many…" description: "\"The pulpit and the press have many commonplaces denouncing the thirst for wealth, but if men should take these moralists at their word, and leave off a..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_civilization_the-pulpit-and-the-press-have-many-commo_2773231.jpg" --- # The pulpit and the press have many commonplaces denouncing… ![“The pulpit and the press have many commonplaces denouncing the thirst for wealth, but if men should take these moralists at their word, and leave off aiming to be rich, the moralists would rush to rekindle at all hazards this love of power in the people, lest civilization should be undone.” quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_civilization_the-pulpit-and-the-press-have-many-commo_2773231.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_civilization_the-pulpit-and-the-press-have-many-commo_2773231.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c36/ralph-waldo-emerson-6_civilization_the-pulpit-and-the-press-have-many-commo_2773231.jpg) > “The pulpit and the press have many commonplaces denouncing the thirst for wealth, but if men should take these moralists at their word, and leave off aiming to be rich, the moralists would rush to rekindle at all hazards this love of power in the people, lest civilization should be undone.” [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Moralists denounce wealth, yet power hunger persists; ignoring wealth leads to power struggles. **In simple terms:** Criticizing wealth ignores human power drive. Key Takeaway Recognize and channel ambition responsibly. Themes wealth power morality society Mood critical analytical Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - political discourse - economic policy - personal ambition Key Concepts political philosophy economics Questions to Reflect On - How to balance wealth pursuit with ethics? - What safeguards prevent power abuse? A Different Perspective Wealth can be used for good. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Civilization](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilization/) [Commonplace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commonplace/) [Hazards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hazards/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Men Moralists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men-moralists-3257167/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Moralist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralist/) [Moralists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralists/) [Moralists Rush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralists-rush-3257168/) [Moralists Word](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moralists-word-3257169/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Presses](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presses/) [Pulpit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pulpit/) [Rich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich/) [Rich Moralists](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rich-moralists-3257166/) [Should](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/should/) [Thirst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thirst/) [Undone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undone/) [Wealth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wealth/) ## Related quotes > [I cannot be convinced that great artists are moralists. 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